imaginary

adjective

imag·​i·​nary i-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē 

-ˌne-rē

1

a

: existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality

b

: formed or characterized imaginatively or arbitrarily

his canvases, chiefly imaginary, somber landscapes

—Current Biography

2

: containing or relating to the imaginary unit

imaginary roots

imaginarily

i-ˌma-jə-ˈner-ə-lē 

adverb

imaginariness

i-ˈma-jə-ˌner-ē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• chimerical
• chimeric
• fabulous
• fanciful
• fantasied
• fantastic
• fantastical
• fictional
• fictitious
• ideal
• imaginal
• imagined
• invented
• made-up
• make-believe
• mythical
• mythic
• notional
• phantasmal
• phantasmic
• phantom
• pretend
• unreal
• visionary

Choose the Right Synonym for imaginary

imaginary, fanciful, visionary, fantastic, chimerical, quixotic mean unreal or unbelievable.

imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

Examples of imaginary in a Sentence

The two groups were separated by an imaginary line down the middle of the room.

an imaginary world of dragons and unicorns

Recent Examples on the Web

This watch sends butterflies around the dial as violets dance in an imaginary breeze for 12 seconds before returning those tiny lepidoptera to display the time on a retrograde scale. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

Starring Ryan Reynolds, the film imagines a world where one little girl can see everyone else’s imaginary friends — and sets off to reunite the figments with their owners. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024

Aside from Saka’s opener and Leandro Trossard’s equalizer to make it 2-2, one of the loudest moments of the night came early in the second half when Kane was shown a yellow card for catching Gabriel with his arm, with many fans inside the stadium waving imaginary red cards towards the pitch. —Matias Grez, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

Lailah said, examining the pink flowers adorning her sister’s cheek while their brother, face painted as Spider-Man, ran around them shooting imaginary webs. —Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

He was elected president of his high school senior class; his yearbook described an imaginary 20-year reunion in which Bragg was president of the United States. —Michael Rothfeld Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024

Remember the imaginary story about the Chinese trillionaires and kids getting sick from pills their parents never consented to? —Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024

Toy Choi's Construction Workbench Play Set Teach them how to build and repair items and encourage imaginary play at this workbench. —Maya Polton, Parents, 24 Mar. 2024

The hope, of course, is that this team will respond the same way: an imaginary weight lifted from their shoulders that morphs into a loose, free, confident and determined group going forward. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ymaginarie, borrowed from Latin imāginārius "unreal, fictitious (in law)," from imāgin-, imāgō "representation, semblance, image entry 1" + -ārius -ary entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing imaginary

• imaginary number
• imaginary part
• imaginary unit
• pure imaginary

Kids Definition

imaginary

adjective

imag·​i·​nary im-ˈaj-ə-ˌner-ē 

: existing only in imagination : not real

unicorns are imaginary

Medical Definition

imaginary

adjective

imag·​i·​nary im-ˈaj-ə-ˌner-ē 

: existing only in imagination : lacking factual reality

imaginary fears

an imaginary illness